Network Director

Aliza Ali, MS is a second year medical student at the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine in San Antonio, Texas. She was born in Pakistan and her family immigrated to America when she was 3 years old. She grew up and graduated high school in Chicago after which she attended undergrad at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. She has BS in Biomedical Science and a BA World Religions. Her family moved to Dallas, TX while she was in college so she moved down after she graduated. After college she worked at the Dallas Public Library fulfilling her childhood fantasy of being a librarian, though she did not find her prince charming between the stacks of books she managed to read within that year. She then attended UNT Health Science Center for her Masters in Medical Science and scribed at a Neurology Clinic before beginning medical school at Incarnate Word. She was excited to serve as her local chapter president this past year helping with diverse representation on her campus. As South Asian Director she aspires to facilitate a greater understanding of the challenges inherent in caring for South Asian patients, while also promoting the integration of their cultural, backgrounds, and lifestyles into tailored care plans for these diverse populations. She seeks to promote greater integration of all Asian populations, fostering understanding of their unique challenges and facilitating the incorporation of their diverse cultural backgrounds and lifestyles into comprehensive care plans. Her hobbies include cooking, eating, sleeping, and going to the gym with her boyfriend. After medical school, her aspiration is to embark on a path and specialty that brings her personal happiness while enabling her to deliver high-quality care to her patients, prioritizing their health and satisfaction.

Hey y’all! My name is John Tran and I’m a third-year medical student at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. I started my leadership duties with APAMSA as Publicity Chair with McGovern APAMSA and I’m incredibly excited to continue to work on the social media side of our national organization! Aside from my role with APAMSA, I am also a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and I enjoy hooping and watching the Houston Rockets play. 🚀

Hey everyone! My name is Andrew Leung, and I am a second year medical student at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. I grew up in South Brunswick, New Jersey and studied Biology at Washington University in St. Louis, so coming back to my home state for medical school was a great homecoming. I previously served as Secretary for my local chapter, and I instantly felt the connection to stay involved with APAMSA! Outside of school and rotations I like cooking different cuisines, watching movies and anime, playing the violin, and connecting with friends on the new APAMSA Discord #NotAnAd. Anyways, I’m thrilled to be your Social Media Co-Director and hope you enjoy what’s to come this year!

Hey everyone! My name is Lara Castaneda and I am currently a first-year medical student at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine Middletown. I was born and raised in Westchester, New York. For my undergraduate, I attended Stony Brook University where I majored in Health Science and minored in Chemistry. Since starting medical school, my commitment to increasing awareness and encouraging communication around AAPI medical concerns motivated me to Co-Found and serve as President for my local APAMSA chapter. Outside of school, I love trying new food spots, traveling, and playing volleyball. I’m excited to serve as your Database Director and continue my commitment to supporting the APAMSA community.

Hi everyone! My name is Angeline Yu and I am incredibly excited to serve as Network Director this year. I am a current junior at Stanford University majoring in Science, Technology, and Society and pursuing my Masters in Community Health and Prevention Research, Contemplative Sciences track. I currently work as a undergraduate research assistant in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences studying the effects of early life adversity on anxiety and binge alcohol drinking behaviors as my funded research project, also affiliated with Stanford Maternal Child Health Institute. I have also worked with Stanford’s Center for Asian Health Research and Education on a key informant study identifying the impact of COVID-19 and Anti-Asian hate on Asian immigrant elderly and strategies to alleviate burdens and provide resources. Thus, I find my passion and purpose in medicine deeply interconnected with women’s health, AAPI health, and mental health and well-being through contemplative practices. I have been involved with my local APAMSA chapter since my freshman year of college, and I currently serve as Stanford Pre-Med APAMSA Chapter President in addition to my position in National APAMSA! Outside of my pre-medical studies, I compete for the Stanford Equestrian Team, enjoy frequenting cozy cafes, and exploring new food places!

Hello everyone! My name is Jennifer and I am a 2nd year medical student at California Health Sciences University. I was born in China and moved to San Jose, California when I was 4. I completed my B.A. in Asian Studies at Vanderbilt University and then obtained an M.S. in Physiology from Georgetown University. As an APAMSA chapter president and your Director of Organized Medicine, my goal is to highlight AANHPI voices beyond the stereotypical

Howdy! I am a third-year medical student at Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV and a previous APAMSA National Conference Director. I am so excited to work with you all as Rapid Response Director!

Before medicine, I completed a BS in Foreign Service at Georgetown University and studied public health at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health. During my time as an undergraduate, I co-organized with student activists for the university’s first Asian American Studies courses, which sparked my interest in AANHPI data disaggregation, healthcare disparities, and social determinants of health. This constellation of experiences and education ultimately motivated me to return home to study medicine in Las Vegas, where AANHPIs remain poorly characterized despite the fact that Asian Americans are the fastest growing racial demographic and Hawaiians fondly call the city the “Ninth Island.” To honor the words of activist Grace Lee Boggs, “The most radical thing I ever did was to stay put.”

Hi! My name is Sarah and I am an incoming MS1 at Case Western Reserve University SOM with roots in Seoul, Korea and Irvine, California. During my time as an undergrad at Stanford, I studied Human Biology with a concentration in Health Policy, my interests of which stemmed from my personal experience dealing with high costs of care in my family. I am excited to return to this position to educate myself and the APAMSA community about health policy and the actions that we can take as a collective to advocate for those we care about.

Previously, I served as the Editor Director on the National Board during the 2022-2023 term and was a Co-president of the Stanford Pre-Med APAMSA Chapter. I am excited to start my second term as the Health Policy Director on the National Board. In my free time, you can find me seeking out the next live music concert, taking pictures of my friends, playing tennis (badly), and playing the violin (acceptably).

Hello everyone! My name is Amelia Huynh and I am a third-year medical student at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences. I was born in San Francisco and graduated from UC Davis with a B.S. in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior. Afterwards, I pursued my M.S. at Keck Graduate Institute where I had the pleasure of working with with Pfizer Inc. Serving as your Membership Vice President, I am committed to upholding our roots and to promoting cross cultural healthcare practices that honor and respect the diversity of our community. Ultimately, my goal in APAMSA is to build an inclusive and equitable support system that ensures every member is provided with the care and resources they need to live a healthy and fulfilling life. Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending quality time with family and friends, food blogging, watching anime, and going to Disneyland!

Hi everyone! My name is Jessica Hsueh, and it is my honor to serve again as your Membership Vice President! I am a current medical student at Georgetown University School of Medicine. During medical school, I spent a year conducting research at the National Institutes of Health as part of the Medical Research Scholars Program. I am originally from the Los Angeles area and went to California State University, Los Angeles for my undergraduate education. I have been involved with APAMSA since 2020 and started out as a local chapter co-president before becoming a Region 3 Director, Database Director, and eventual Membership Vice President. In my free time, I enjoy kickboxing, watching Los Angeles sports (especially football), eating food as a Yelp Elite, and traveling.